MSP executes USD 42 million to strengthen the Ecuador Grows Without Malnutrition Strategy, with support from the IDB – Ministry of Public Health

2023-08-16 20:40:34

Quito, August 16, 2023

This Wednesday the execution of the credit for USD 42 million that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) delivered to Ecuador began. The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) will be in charge of administering and directing the funds, in a responsible manner, to strengthen the Ecuador Grows Without Child Malnutrition Strategy.

This investment will be for the next two years. The financing will serve to reinforce the delivery of health benefits through the prioritized package, which benefits pregnant women, girls and boys under two years of age.

The prioritized package provided by the MSP is part of the “Ecuador National Strategy Creates Without Child Malnutrition”, which includes prenatal control, healthy child control, vaccination and nutritional counseling for this specific group.

The Minister of Public Health, José Ruales, thanked the contribution of the IDB and the financial support to strengthen the objectives and goals of action included in this national strategy. “The delivery of prioritized health benefits for this group of people is essential, with equipment and monitoring, nutrition, counseling on breastfeeding and education,” said the Health Authority.

In addition, he emphasized that coordination and intersectoral work with the support of local governments is essential. Interventions in prioritized parishes in the country, with an emphasis on citizen participation and interculturality, are key to advancing this public policy, Ruales said.

Cristina San Román, IDB health specialist, assured that this credit is a priority for the international organization and Ecuador, “always thinking of targeted actions to reduce chronic child malnutrition, in the 24 provinces of the country.”

The beneficiaries will be more than 837 thousand people, including pregnant women and children under two years of age throughout the country. One of the goals is to increase the coverage of prenatal care. As well as expanding the coverage of children under 24 months with health check-ups, and strengthening type A, B and C health centers with the inclusion of more support groups for Breastfeeding.